Inflatable versatile support cushion

ABSTRACT

A support cushion having an inflatable bladder and at least one adjustable strap. The inflatable bladder includes a top portion and at least one side wall portion perpendicularly disposed from the top portion. The adjustable strap or straps have a first end coupled to a bottom portion of the side wall and a second end coupled to the top portion of the inflatable bladder. The adjustable strap can be tightened so that the side wall is compressed. In a preferred embodiment. the side wall portions have at least one horizontal pleat. By adjusting the straps the support cushion can be adjusted to have different heights and angles so that it can be used to meet a variety of different needs of a user.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/613,880, filed on Jul. 3, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to support cushions and, more particularly, to an inflatable and fully adjustable foot rest, seat cushion, and lumbar pillow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional seats in airplanes, busses, and trains, as well as theaters and stadiums, are generally designed to accommodate a person of average height and to conserve as much floor space as possible. Often times, this leads to a cramped seating area and a seat that is not at the proper height for the seated person. To make matters worse, people generally have no choice but to remain in these seats for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there are a number of health risks associated with being seated for a long duration of time. These health risks are exacerbated by the inability of the seated person to properly stretch.

In order to avoid health problems such as deep vein thrombosis, swollen feet, and back injury, it is important that a person be seated comfortably and properly. For example, a short person's feet should not dangle from the seat, but rather should comfortably reach the floor. Furthermore, a tall person's knees should not be bent above the height of the seat. It is also important that a person receive proper back support when seated for long periods of time.

There are many support cushions available that address a particular one of the above identified problems. However, a person's needs are not always the same in every situation. Sometimes the user may require additional back support, while at other times the user may require a foot rest. The support cushions known in the art are not versatile enough to provide the user with a support cushion that is appropriate for a user's various and changing needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved support cushions that are adjustable and inflatable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be adjusted to various heights and angles

Still another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be adjusted so that opposing portions of the cushion can have varying heights and angles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be neatly, easily, and controllably inflated and deflated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that support and restrain a person's feet.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be arranged on the floor and lifted without requiring a user to bend over.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that vibrate and are heated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that are versatile enough to comfortably function as a foot rest, seat cushion, and lumbar pillow.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, these and other objects are attained by providing a support cushion having an inflatable bladder and at least one adjustable strap. The inflatable bladder includes a top portion and at least one side wall portion perpendicularly disposed from the top portion. The adjustable strap or straps have a first end coupled to a bottom portion of the side wall and a second end coupled to the top portion of the inflatable bladder. The adjustable strap can be tightened so that the side wall is compressed.

In a preferred embodiment, the side walls have at least one substantially horizontal pleat. The pleat serves as a crease along which the side wall is folded when the side wall is compressed by the adjustable strap. The pleat makes it easier to compress the side wall of the bladder in a controlled and compact manner.

The support cushion preferably has a concave bottom portion coupled to the side walls. The concavity of the bottom portion is curved in the direction of the top portion such that the underside of the support cushion is concave. The concavity of the bladder reduces its volume requiring less air to inflate. This makes it easier to inflate the support cushion. The reduced volume also reduces the time it takes to inflate and deflate the cushion.

The support cushion also, preferably, has a guide strap coupled to the inflatable bladder. The guide strap permits a user to guide the support cushion along the floor without bending down. Additionally, the support cushion can be retrieved from the floor using the guide strap without the user having to bend down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a support cushion according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the support cushion according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is sectional view along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the support cushion according to the present invention showing adjustable straps at equal lengths.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the support cushion according to the present invention showing adjustable straps at unequal lengths.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the support cushion according to the present invention showing back two adjustable straps at one length and front two straps at a second length.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the support cushion according to the present invention showing a top portion with a crease and all four adjustable straps at the same length.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-7.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the support cushion, generally labeled 10, includes an inflatable bladder 20 and four adjustable straps 30(a, b, c, d). The support cushion 10 shown in the figures is rectangular, however, it is understood that the cushion 10 may be round or be of any other shape. The inflatable bladder 20 has a top portion 40 and four side wall portions 50(a, b, c, d) that extend substantially perpendicularly from the top portion 40. It is understood that if the support cushion 10 is round then only one side wall portion 50 around the circumference of the cushion 10 is necessary. Each of the top portion 40 and side wall portions 50 of the inflatable bladder 20 are formed of opposing membranes 22(a, b) that are separated by an air pocket 24, as shown in FIG. 3. The inflatable bladder 20, preferably, is made out of rubber and has a unitary construction. It is understood that the bladder may be constructed out of any other suitable materials such as plastics. The bladder 20 is given its shape by stamping or any other means known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the inflatable bladder 20 also has a concave bottom portion 60 coupled to the side wall portions 50. The concavity of the bottom portion 60 is curved in the direction of the top portion 40. This construction appears similar to an inverted bathtub. The concavity of the bottom portion 60 reduces the volume of the inflatable bladder 20 requiring less air to inflate the bladder 20. Furthermore, the concavity provides for a seat cushion that can be used comfortably by people suffering from hemorrhoids or other illness. The seat cushion 10 is turned upside down so that the concavity faces upward. The user sits on the support cushion 10 such that the area affected by the hemorrhoids is over the concavity and is not irritated by the cushion 10. The user is supported in the seated position by the side wall portions 50.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the side wall portions 50 of the bladder 20 are pleated 52 in a manner similar to the bellows of an accordion. This permits the side wall portions 50 to be easily and neatly compressed in a compact and controlled manner. The pleats 52 also permit the bladder 20 to be inflated in a controlled manner. The pleats 52 prevent the side wall portions 50 from bulging when they are squeezed by causing the side wall portions 50 to fold at the creases of the pleats 52.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, the top portion 40 has two foot restraints 42(a, b) that are used to secure the user's feet to the cushion 10. It is understood that one large foot restraint may be used to secure both feet or even only one foot. Securing only one foot permits the user to have full range of motion with the other foot without loosing contact with the cushion 10. The foot restraints 42 assure that the user's feet will not fall off the cushion 10 during use. The foot restraints 42 may be a loop coupled to the top portion 40 that the user can place his or her foot through or any other means known in the art.

The preferred embodiment of the support cushion also includes a guide strap 70 coupled to the inflatable bladder 20. The guide strap 70 extends from the cushion 10 and is intended to be held in the hand of the user at a distal end. The guide strap 70 is used to pull the cushion 10 in order to adjust its placement on the floor without requiring the user to bend down and move the cushion 10. Furthermore, the guide strap 70 is used to lift the cushion 10 off the floor once the user has finished using the cushion 10.

The bladder 20 is inflated by introducing air between the membranes 22 of the bladder 20 through an air valve 80. The inflatable bladder 20 can be filled by manually blowing air into the valve 80 or by pulling opposing membranes 22 a and 22 b of the bladder 20 in opposite directions to form a vacuum that sucks air into the bladder 20 through the air valve 80. The air valve 80 is also used to controllably deflate the bladder 20.

The adjustable straps 30 have a first end 31 coupled to the bottom of the side wall portions 50 or to the bottom portion 60 and a second end 32 coupled to the top portion 40 of the inflatable bladder 20. The length of the adjustable straps 30 may be adjusted to make the straps longer or shorter. The length of the straps 30 is adjustable by any means known in the art, e.g. Velcro or a buckle. Each of the adjustable straps 30 can be tightened so that they compress a portion of the side wall portions 50 of the inflatable bladder 20.

The adjustable straps 30 are used to customize and adjust the support cushion 10 to fit the needs of the user. The straps 30 are adjusted to various lengths to adjust the height and inflection of the cushion 10. The adjustability of the support cushion 10 can be improved by increasing the number of adjustable straps 30 used. Furthermore, the placement of the straps 30 determines the type of adjustment that the straps can be used to achieve.

For example, the four adjustable straps 30 shown in the figures are each coupled near a corner of the support cushion 10. All the straps 30 may be shortened to the same length to lower the support cushion 10 to that height, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, straps 30 a and 30 b may be adjusted to a length shorter than that of straps 30 c and 30 d in order to make one side of the support cushion shorter than the other side, as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, straps 30 b and 30 d may be set to a length shorter than the length of straps 30 a and 30 c in order to angle the top portion of the cushion upward, as shown in FIG. 6. It is understood that a variety of strap length configurations may be used in order to achieve different heights and angles of the support cushion 10. Accordingly, it is understood that the adjustable straps 30 can be placed at various positions on the support cushion 10 in order to adjust the shape of the cushion by setting the straps 30 to specific lengths in order to compress the cushion 10 in particular places and to let it expand to its full length in other places.

By adjusting the straps 30, the support cushion l takes on shapes that are suitable for different utilities and situations. If the user requires a flat foot rest, the straps 30 can all be set to the same length. If the user requires a seat cushion that angles backward, the straps 30 are adjusted accordingly. The versatility provided by the support cushion 10 of the present invention permits the user to require only one cushion for all his or her support needs.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, a crease 110 is provided on the top portion 40 of the inflatable bladder so that the top portion bulges when it is inflated. The bulge improves the support cushions functionality as a lumbar cushion.

In one embodiment, the support cushion also includes a heating element 90 and/or a vibrating element 100. These elements, preferably, are battery operated and are removably attached to the top portion 40 of the inflatable bladder 20. These elements further provide relief and stimulation to the user's feet or back.

The description provided above indicates that a great degree of flexibility exists with the support cushion. Although the support cushion has been described with considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 

1. A support cushion comprising: an inflatable bladder comprising a top portion and at least one side wall portion substantially perpendicularly disposed from said top portion; and at least one adjustable strap having a first end coupled to a bottom portion of said at least one side wall portion and a second end coupled to said top portion of said inflatable bladder, wherein said at least one adjustable strap can be tightened so that said at least one side wall portion is compressed.
 2. The support cushion according to claim 1, wherein said side wall portion has at least one substantially horizontal pleat such that said at least one side wall portion folds along said pleat when said side wall portion is compressed by said at least one adjustable strap.
 3. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a concave bottom portion coupled to said at least one side wall portion, wherein the concavity of said bottom portion is curved in the direction of said top portion.
 4. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder has four side wall portions.
 5. The support cushion of claim 1 having four adjustable straps, wherein two of said four adjustable straps are coupled to one end of said support cushion and the other two of said four adjustable straps are coupled to a second end of said support cushion.
 6. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising an air valve.
 7. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot restraint.
 8. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a guide strap coupled to said inflatable bladder.
 9. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a heating element.
 10. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a vibrating element. 